Desk



July 2, 1935. H. P. NORDMARK ET AL DESK 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20,1934 July 2, 193 H. P. NORDMARK ET AL.

DESK

Filed Aug. 20, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jame/whorl; Pal 0h K. Merrill enryA ordmark Mommy H. F. NORDMARK ET AL July 2, 1935.

' DESK Filed Aug. 20, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 arvbcwvbomi 7c al h fl.Merrill Henry 7 A OrdmrIr/r July 2, 1935. H. P. NORDMARK ET AL DESKFiled Aug. 20, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Henry 7 [Vbrdmark Patented July 2,1935 PATENT OFFICE DESK Henry P. Nordmark and Ralph K. Merrill, GrandRapids, Mich., assignors to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids,Mich., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 20,

20 Claims.

The present invention relates to desks and more particularly to desksprovided with a top having a portion thereof which is both forwardly andrearwardly slidableas well as upwardly and *6 downwardly tiltable toform an adjustable angular support or easel for books, papers and thelike.

" The instant invention is a structure of the general character shown inUnited States'Letters Patent No. 1,851,906, issued March 29, 1932, toOlive G. Henderson and under which our assignee is exclusive licensee.The instant invention is likewise in the nature of a modification of thestructure shown in the co-pending application, Serial Number 738,463,filed August 4, 1934 by Henry P. Nordmark. v

I The primary objects of the instant invention are to provide astructure of the character above indicated which is particularly welladapted for use in the school room; to provide such a structure whoseuse by the school pupil is designed to minimize eye strain; to providesuch a structure having unitary means for simultaneously lockingboth-the slidable and tiltable portion of the desk top in adjustedposition; and, to provide such a structure which is not only amplyadjustable through less space than the adjustability of the structure ofthe above identified patent, but which is more economical in manufacturethan is the structure of the patent above identified.

-An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a perspective view of thestructure, partly broken away, showing in full lines the desk top in oneof its adjusted'slid and elevated positions and in dotted lines the desktop in an-- other of its adjusted slid and elevated positions;

Figure 2 is a reduced end elevational view showing the desk top when thesame is folded downwardly and adaptable for use as a school desk;

" Figure 3 is another reduced end elevational view showing the desk topin one of its elevated or' angularly adjusted positions;

Figure 4 is another reduced end elevational view showing the desk top inone of its adjusted slid and angularly elevated positions;

j Figure 5 is likewise a reduced end elevational ;view,showing the desktop in still another slid and angularly adjusted position;

' Figure (3 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view showing infulllines a portion of the desk top in one adjusted elevated positionand in dottedlines the desk top when in down- 1934, Serial No. 740,642

Wardly folded position adaptable for use as a desk; I

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the desk withits top in adjusted elevated position;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View on lines 8-8 ofFigure 1;

Figure 9 is a sectional View on lines Figure 8;

Figure. 10 is a modified construction showing means for frictionallyadjusting the tilting movement of the desk top;

Figure 11 is a sectional View thereof on line IIIi of Figure 10; and

Figure 12 is a sectional view on of Figure 10. 7

Referring now to the drawings in which like parts of the structure shownare designated by the same numerals in the several views, a school deskhaving a wooden bottom It], upstanding formed sheet metal end walls II,I2, a formed metal front wall I3, and a metallic rear wall I4 isprovided with a desk top portion I5 of wood mounted adjacent the upperedge of the end wall I2 and extending laterally toward the end wall I I.A guideway, preferably of stamped sheet metal and here shown ascomprising a U-shaped portion I6, is secured below the stationary desktop portion I5 adjacent its free end as by screws I1 and an upwardlyextending flange portion I8 contacts the stationary desk top portionadjacent its free end, as best shown in Figures 7 and 9. A secondguideway I9, likewise preferably of stamped sheet metal, is here shownas secured to and depending from the upper edge of the upstanding endwall II on the outside thereof,

as best shown in Figures 7 and 9. 3 I

A supported platform likewise preferably formed of stamped sheet metalis provided at one end with a pair of oppositely disposed strips ofrawhide 2| or the like, and itsother end is bent downwardly, theninwardly and again downwardly, outwardly and upwardly to form a trackway22, all as best shown in Figure 9. This supported platform is slidablymounted within the guideways I6; I9 and its sliding movement is limitedbetween the forward and rearward ends of the guideways by the stops 23,24 in the guideway l9. V

A third guideway 25 depends from and is secured as by rivets 26 to theunderside of the slidably mounted supported platform inside of the endwall II and has a portion 21 projecting laterally toward the end wall II. A plate 28 disposed parallel with respect to the'guideway 25 iswithin the slot 3 I.

likewise secured to the under side of the slidably mounted supportedplatform as by'rivets above the laterally projecting portion 21 and abearing plate 29, here shown as a channel bar, is slidably mountedinterjacent the guideway 25 and the plate 28, as best shown in Figure 9.This channel bar bearing plate is of longer length than the length ofguideway 25, and during the sliding movement of the supported platform20, the channel bar plate likewise slides between the guideway 25, 21and the plate 28 to prevent distortional sliding movements of thesupported platform.

A desk top portion 3llhaving a slot 3| disposed parallel with all of theguideways is hingedly connected adjacent its forward side to the forwardside of the slidably mounted supported platform as by the hinges 32.

A block generally designated 33, hereinafter more particularlydescribed, is slidably mounted within the trackway 22 of the supportedplatform 20 and a shuttle 34 is slidably mounted A rawhide strip 35 cr-the like secured within the slot 3| in any suitable manner forms abearing surface for the shuttle."

The'hinged desktop portion 30 is supported in angularly adjustedposition by-a pair of supporting struts 36,31. The supporting'strut 36is hingedly secured at one end to the under side of the desk top portion30 and at its other end is pivotallysecured to the block 33 within thetrackway 22 while the strut 31 is pivotally secured at one end to theshuttle 34' within the slot 3| and at its other end is hingedly securedto the upper side of the platform 20, all as best shown in Figure '7.

j 'It will thus be seen that thede'sk top portion 30 may not only beelevated to adjusted angular,

position to form a support for books; papers or the like, but may belikewise slid to a forwardly or rearwardly adjusted position asindicated in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive.

The block generally designated 33 and slidably mounted within thetraekway 22 of the supported platform 20 (Figures 1-9) and as best shownin Figure 9 comprises the bar 38, preferably; of metal, and the strips39, 40 on opposite sides thereof, preferably of rawhide or the like. 'Anouter bar 4| of metal has a depending portion 42 and these members 38,39, 4B and 4| are here shown as secured together by rivets 43.

Unitary means for simultaneously maintaining the desk top in both slidand angularly adjusted positions is the lever 44 pivotally secured tothe depending-portion 42- of the bar whose cammed head 45 is adapted toengage the under side of the guideway l9 when it is swung downwardly asbest shown in Figures 6 and 9.

In the modified constructionshown in Figures i0 to 12, the supportedplatform 20 is provided 'with the additional element 46 which is securedto its upper side as by spot welding and which overhangs the end thereofin spaced relation therewith to form the guideway 22 for slidable block1 as best shown in Figure 11. A depending arm 42 is secured to the block41 interjacent the block and thewasher 48 of rawhide or the likeby therivet 49 which passes through the block 41, the arm 42 and the washer43. "The lever 44 whose cammed head 45 is adapted to engage the underside of the guideway I!) when swung downwardly is pivotally securedt'othe depending arm 42 and provides unitary means for simultaneouslymaintaining the desktop in both slid and angularly adjusted positions;

which is fastened to the under side of the desk top as by the screws58., Thus it will be seen that the tilting movement of the desk top maybe frictionall'y adjusted by the adjusting screw 52 which controls thepressure of the washers 48, 53 on the opposite sides of the web 55. I

It will likewise be seen that the supported platform 20 is limited inits rearward and forward movement by the stops 23 and 24 respectivelyand although the desk top 30 may extend in angularly adjustedpositionbeyond the rear side of the desk in instances where the supportedplatform has been slid rearwfardly as far .as it will go as shownforexample in Figure 5,

depressing of the angularly disposed top automatically cause thesupported platform to move forwardly as soon as the slidable'blocks 33or 41 engage the stop 23. Thus the desk top 30 which is hingedly andpivotally secured to the slidably supported platform and tojthe blocks33 or 41 will likewise be moved rearwardly as the top is depressed andthe pupil'seatedforwardly of the rear side of the deskwillrnevt bestruck as the desk top is depressed in instances of carelessmanipulation int-lowering it. The cammed head 44 of the lever'45 whichengages the under side of the guideway I9 will likewise be thrown out ofengagement therewith when the top is depressed and its mechanismuninjured through failure to turn it before depressing the top. 1 I

While but several embodiments of this inven tion have-been herein shownanddescribed, it

willbe understood that numerous details was constructions shown may bealtered or omitted without departing from the spirit M this invention asdefined by the following We claim:

1.In a structure of the class described, b V

,positely disposed supporting members each provided with a guideway, asupported platform slidably mounted withinthe guideways and having atrackway, a desk top having a slot disposed arents with the guidewaysand hingedly connected tothe slidably mounted supported platform, ablock slidable within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within theslot, and apair of struts for supporting the desktop in adjusted angularposition, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to theslidably supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end tothe shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end tothe hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top.

2. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supportingmembers each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidablymounted within the guideways and having a trackway; means for limitingthe sliding movement of the slidably mounted supported platform betweenthe forward and rearward ends of the guideways, a desk top having a slotdisposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected totheslidably mountedsupported platform, a block slidable within thetrackwayand a shuttle slidable withlnthe slot,

block and a and a pair of struts'for supporting the desk top in adjustedangular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one endto the slidably mountedsupported platform and pivotally secured at itsother end to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured atone end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desktop.

3. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supportingmembers each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidablymounted within the guideways and having a trackway, a desk top having aslot disposed parallel with the guideways and ,hingedly connected to theslidably mounted supported platform, a block slidable within thetrackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, a pair of struts forsupporting; the desk top in adjusted angular position,one of said strutsbeing hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supportedplatform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and theother strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedlysecured at its other end to the desk top, and means for maintaining theslidably mounted supported platform in adjustably slid position.

4. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supportingmembers each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidablymounted within the guideways and having a trackway, a desk top having aslot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected to theslidably mounted supported platform, a block slidable within thetrackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, a pair of struts forsupporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said strutsbeing hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supportedplatform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and theother strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedlysecured at its other end to the desk top, and means for maintaining thehingedly connected desk top in angularly adjusted position.

5. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supportingmembers each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidablymounted within the guideways and having a top having a slot disposedparallel with the guideways and hingedly connected to the slidablymounted supported platform, a block slidable within the trackway and ashuttle slidable within the slot, a pair of struts for supporting thedesk top in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedlysecured at one end to the slidably mounted supported platform andpivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strutbeing pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured atits other end to the desk top, and unitary means for simultaneouslymaintaining the slidably mounted supported platform in adjust ably slidposition and the hingedly connected desk ..top in angularly adjustedposition.

6. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supportingmembers each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidablymounted within the guideways and having a trackway, means for limitingthe sliding movement of the slidably mounted supported platform betweenthe forward and rearward ends of the guideways, a desk top having a slotdisposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected slidablewithin the slot, a pair of struts for supporting the desk top inadjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured atone end to the slidably mounted supported platform and pivotally securedat its other end to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotallysecured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end tothe desk top, and means for maintaining the slidably mounted supportedplatform in adjustably slid position.

'7. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposedsupporting members each provided with a guideway, a supported platformslidably mounted within the guideways and having a trackway, means forlimiting the sliding movement of the slidably mounted supported platformbetween the forward and rearward ends of the guideways, a desk tophaving a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedlyconnected to the slidably mounted supported platform, a block slidablewithin the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, a pair ofstruts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one ofsaid struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mountedsupported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttleand the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block andhingedly secured at its other end to the desk top, and means formaintaining the hingedly connected desk top in angularly adjustedposition. i

3. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supportingmembers each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidablymounted within the guideways and having a trackway, means for limitingthe sliding movement of the slidably mounted supported platform betweenthe forward and rearward ends of the guideways, a desk top having a slotdisposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected to theslidably mounted supported platform, a block slidable within thetrackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, a pair of struts forsupporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said strutsbeing hingedly secured at one endto the slidably mounted supportedplatform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and theother strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedlysecured at its other end to the desk top, and unitary means forsimultaneously maintaining the slidably mounted supported platform inadjustably slid position and the hingedly connected desk top inangularly adjusted position.

9. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supportingmembers each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidablymounted within the guideways and having a trackway, a desk top having aslot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected to theslidably mounted supportedplatform adjacent its forward side, a blockslidable within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, anda pair of struts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angularposition, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to theslidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its otherend to the shuttle and the other strut being one end to the block andhingedly secured at its other end to the desk top.

' 10. In a structure'of the class described, op-

pivotally secured at platform between the forward and rearward ends ofthe guideways, a desk top having a slot disposed parallel withtheguidewa'ys and hingedly connected to the 'slidably mounted supportedplatform adjacent its forward side, a block slidable withinthe traokwayand a shuttle slidable within the slot, and a pair of struts forsupporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said strutsbeing hing'edly secured at one end to the siidably mounted supportedplatform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and theother strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedlysecured at its other end to the desk top. a

11. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposedsupporting members each pro-- vided' with a guideway, a supportedplatform slldably mounted within the guideways and having a trackway, adesk top having a-slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedlyconnected to the slidably mounted supported platform adjacentits-forward side, a block slidable within the trackwayi and a. shuttleslidable within the slot, a pair of struts for supporting the desk top'in adjusted'angular position, one of said strutsbeing hingedly securedat one end to the slidably mounted supported platform and pivotallysecured at its other end to the shuttle and thenother strut beingpivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at itsother end to the desk top, and means for maintaining the s'lidablymounted supported platform, in adjustably slid position. 12. In astructure of the class described, oppo sitelydisposed supporting memberseach pro 'vided with a guideway, a supported platfonn slidably mountedwithin the guideways and hav 'ing a trackway, av desk top having a slotdisposed parallel with the guidewaysand hingedly. connected to theslidably mounted supported platform adjacent its forward side, a blockslidable within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, apair of struts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position,one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to theslidablymounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its otherend to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at oneend to the block and hingedly secured at its otherend to the desk top,and means for maintaining the hingedly connected desk top in angularlyadjusted position. r 1 13. In a structure of the class described, oppo-Isitely disposed supporting members each provided with a guideway, asupported platform slidably mounted Withinv the guideways and haw ing atrackway, a desk top having a slot disposed parallel with the guidewa-ysand hingedly connected 'to the slidabiy mounted supported form adjacentits forward side, a block slidable within the trackwayand a shuttleslidable witlnn the slot, a pair of struts for supporting the desk topin adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly securedat one end to the slidably mounted supported platform and pivotallysecured at its other end tothe shuttle and the other strut beingpivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at itsother end to the'desk top, and unitary means for simultaneouslymaintaining the slidably mountedsupported platform in adjustably slidposition and the hingedly connected desk top in angularlyadjustedposition.

14. In a structureof the class described, sitely disposed supportingmembers each provided with a guideway, a supported platfonnslidablymounted within the-guideways and having a 'trackway, means for limitingthe sliding "movement of the slidably mounted supported platform betweenthe forward and rearward endsol the guideways, a desk top having a'slotdisposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly con} nected to theslidably mounted SUDDOPUGG'DINZ- form adjacent its forward side, a blockslidable within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, apair ofstrusts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position,one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidablymounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to theshuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured atone end totheblock and hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top, and meansfor maintaining the slidably mounted supported platform in adjustablyslid position.

' 15J'In a structure of the class described-Oppositely disposedsupporting members each provided with a guideway, a Support-ed platformslidably mounted within the guideways and havinga trackway, means forlimiting the: sliding movement of the slidablyi mounted supportedplatform between the forward and rearward ends of the guideways, a desktop having a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedlyconnected to the slidably mounted supportedplatform adjacent its forwardside, a block-slidable within the trackway'and a'shuttle slidable withinthe slot, a pair of struts for supporting the desk top in adjustedangular pwition, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end tothe slidably mounted supported platform and pivot- H ally secured at itsother end to the shuttle and the other strut. being pivotally secured atone end to the block and hingedly secured at its other 'endto the desktop, and means for maintaining the hingedly connected desk topinangularly adjusted position. a

16. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposedsupporting members eachprovided with a 'guideway, a supported platformslid-i slot, a pair of struts-for supporting the desk top in adjustedangular position; one of said struts being hingedly secured at one endto the slidably mo'unted supported platform and pivotally secured at itsother end to the shuttle and theother' strut being pivotally secured atone end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desktop, and unitary 'means for simultaneously maintainingthe slidablymounted supported platform in adjustably slid position and the.hingedlyi connected desk top in angularly adjusted position. v 17. In astructure of the class described, oppositely disposed supporting memberseach provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidably mountedwithin the guideways and havin a 7 trackway, a desk top having a slotdisposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected to theslidably mounted supported platform, a

block slidable Within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within theslot, a pair of struts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angularposition, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to theslidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its otherend to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at oneend to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top,and unitary means for simultaneously maintaining the slidably mountedsupported platform in adjustably slid position and the hingedlyconnected desk top in angularly adjusted position comprising a clamppivotally secured to the block and adapted to frictionally engage one ofthe guideways.

18. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposedsupporting members each provided with a guideway, a supported platformslidably mounted within the guideways and having a trackway, means forlimiting the sliding movement of the slidably mounted supported platformbetween the forward and rearward ends of the guideways, a desk tophaving a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedlyconnected to the slidably mounted supported platform, a block slidablewithin the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, a pair ofstruts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one ofsaid struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mountedsupported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttleand the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block andhingedly secured at its other end to the desk top, and unitary means forsimultaneously maintaining the slidably mounted supported platform inadjustably slid position and the hingedly connected desk top inangularly adjusted position comprising a clamp pivotally secured to theblock and adapted to frictionally engaged one of the guideways.

19. In a structure of the class described, a base having upstanding endwalls, a stationary desk 7 top portion mounted adjacent the upper edgeof one of the upstanding end walls and projecting laterally toward theother end wall, guideways disposed adjacent the free end of thestationary desk top portion and adjacent the upstanding end wallopposite said stationary desk top portion, a supported platform slidablymounted within the guideways and having a trackway, a desk top portionhaving a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedlyconnected with the slidably mounted supported platform, a block slidablewithin the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, and a pairof struts for supporting the hinged desk top in adjusted angularposition, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to theslidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its otherend to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at oneend to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the hingeddesk top.

20. In a structure of the class described, a base having upstanding endwalls, a stationary desk top portion mounted adjacent the upper edge ofone of the upstanding end Walls and projecting laterally toward theother end wall, a guideway disposed adjacent the free end of thestationary desk top portion and a pair of guideways disposed on oppositesides of the end wall opposite said stationary desk top portion, asupported platform slidably mounted within the guideway adjacent thestationary desk top portion and within one of said other guideways, saidplatform having a trackway, a bearing plate slidably mounted within theother of said guideways, a desk top portion having a slot disposedparallel with the guideways and hingedly connected with the slidablymounted supported platform, a block slidable Within the trackway and ashuttle slidable within the slot, and a pair of struts for supportingthe hinged desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said strutsbeing hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supend to theshuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to theblock and hingedly secured at its other end to the hinged desk top.

HENRY P. NORDMARK. RALPH K. MERRILL.

